Unexpectedly, I had to go out on medical leave after taking a very bad fall. And while I'd love to be able to say I was doing something macho, like downhill skiing or sky diving, the truth is my fall was the result of pure clumsiness — not watching where I was running in my own front yard.

One trip to the hospital, one surgery, one titanium plate and 10 orthopedic bone screws later, I found myself out of commission for the entire holiday season and beyond — the biggest retail time of the year.

Unable to drive, I had a tough time tracking retail activity in my own community yet alone elsewhere. I would have had no clue what was happening if not for editor Mike Hirsch and part-time reporter Jennifer Sheehan, who took over the Retail Watch column to keep us all informed. I'm extremely grateful.

When I returned last week, it seemed I was receiving nothing but bad news, including the closings of three longtime favorites — Youell's Oyster House in Allentown, Paulo's Italian Restaurant in Northampton and Confetti Café in Bethlehem. (More about these and several other closing later in this column.)

Fortunately, the tides quickly turned and I learned of several new businesses that have opened and several more that are on the way.

Among the new places is an eatery that caters to those who love pulled pork barbecue, baby back ribs and other Southern favorites.

About three weeks ago, Tony Scheirer opened Pig Out BBQ Pit at 1232 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township. It's in the small shopping strip next to the Jordan Creek, just south of the White Castle that opened in front of Home Depot. (Look for the hot pink door, says Scheirer.)

Now, if you're thinking, "only in the Lehigh Valley would you find a place called 'Pig Out'," you're wrong.

Scheirer relocated from his original location in Glen Mills, Delaware County, where Pig Out BBQ Pit garnered numerous awards for his original Southern recipes of favorites such as pulled pork barbecue, Hickory Smoked Baby Back Ribs, smoked wings, collard greens, brisket baked beans and corn bread. It was ranked the No. 1 place to go for barbecue on WPHL 17's Best of Philly Hot List, among other accolades.

Scheirer, a 1991 graduate of Whitehall High School, and his late wife, Joanna, opened the Delaware County Pig Out BBQ Pit in 2007 to give people a taste of real Southern cooking. Joanna grew up in southern Virginia.

When they moved north after they married, they just couldn't find good barbecue, certainly not as good as Joanna could make at home. Opening their own business gave them a chance to share those dishes and it gave Joanna an opportunity to work.

"She suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since she was a child ... and was too proud to go on disability," Scheirer explained.

Two years ago, at age 38, Joanna died. Scheirer tried to make a go of it in Delaware County without her but finally decided to move back to the Valley to be close to family.

But it's still her recipes that drive the business, says Scheirer. Pig Out BBQ Pit is not a sit-down restaurant. It's a takeout, delivery and catering service. And its specialty is Joanna's Eastern North Carolina Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich — hickory smoked pork simmered in a spicy vinegar pepper sauce and topped with cole slaw.

The secret is how the recipes are prepared as well as specialty sauces, which range from mild to chili hot, says Scheirer. All are all gluten-free.

His quarter-pound sandwiches are priced at $5.50. A-la-carte sides are $2 and $3.

Pig Out BBQ Pit also specializes in party trays and is now running a "ribfest," during which two full baby back ribs are on sale for $22.

The Internet Café Deli & Grill at 6 S. Broad St. in Nazareth is open again under new ownership. Although the menu still features many all-American favorites, owners Marco Justo and Maria Cortes are gradually changing it to primarily consist of Puerto Rican, Peruvian and Mexican cuisine.

By the end of March, Justo, who is from Peru, and Cortes, a native of Puerto Rico, hope to change the restaurant's name, as well, to The Beans & Rice Place.

Internet, of course, is still available for patrons. And the restaurant has retained its décor, which includes fascinating old photos of Nazareth.

It's open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more info: http://www.internetcafeanddeli.com.

Named after an old city in Turkey, Ephesus Restaurant opened in mid-December at 549 Main St. in Bethlehem.

Owners Metin Genc and Senol Aydemir say Ephesus is open for lunch and dinner every day, offering Turkish, Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.

"Everything is homemade. We try to use only fresh products and everything is prepared on the premises," says Genc.